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If so, be sure that your church super bowl party is legal. In recent years, the NFL has become very protective of its copyright over all things super bowl. Fortunately, The Church Law Group has put together 3 rules for church super bowl parties (video).

3 Rules for 2010 Church Super Bowl Parties

The game must be shown on equipment that the church regularly uses over the course of ministry. So if the church already owns a big screen and sound equipment, then the game can be shown using this equipment.

Church can not charge admission for the party. The NFL has stated, however, that church may take up a donation to defray the cost of the event if they desire.

To avoid any copyright infringements, churches may want to call their event a “Big Game Party” rather than a “Super Bowl Party.”

Intellectual property is a serious topic but unfamiliar to many. According to The Christian Post, Fall Creek Baptist Church (Indianapolis, IN) learned about it the hard way when the National Football League ordered them to cease and desist intended plans on their upcoming Super Bowl party because of trademark violations.

The 2 Part Initial Problem:

Use of the Super Bowl’s trademark name
(just the words “Super Bowl”)

A fee to attend

Fall Creek offered to remove the words “Super Bowl” from all promotions, but the NFL still objected stating:

The church cannot project the game onto such a large screen. They may only hold the event if they use a TV no bigger than 55 inches.

And according to Rachel L. Margolies of the NFL:

We are consistent in refusing the use of our game broadcasts in connection with events that promote a message, no matter the content.

Intellectual property can be a confusing issue but is certainly worth learning.